The Most Common Garage Door Issues in Cold Weather

Cold weather can be fun and exciting, because it indicates that a new season is upon us. Cold weather might bring up memories of holiday celebrations with families, and depending on where you live, you might enjoy being able to see snow falling. But unfortunately cold weather can negatively impact certain components of your property, such as the garage door. It can hurt the performance of your garage door. The team at Garage Door Repair Suffolk in Suffolk, VA knows that you need your garage door to function properly so that you can have easy and smooth access to your garage, especially in those brisk winter months. Here, we have outlined some of the most popular issues that arise in cold weather as it relates to garage doors. Of course, you can always get on the phone with an expert if you would prefer to speak with someone directly – just do a search for a garage door services professional in your location!

1) When it gets to be freezing, you might have a difficult time opening and closing your garage door.

Of course, your garage door can fail to operate smoothly at any time of the year, but it is something that tends to happen at times when the weather is very cold. You should make sure that the garage door is not misaligned. You should also lubricate any parts which need it (do you notice rust or cracking? This is a sure sign that you need to lubricate the parts). Make sure that the garage door is not out of balance. If these steps fail to work, then get on the phone with an expert. They should be able to solve the problem for you quickly and affordably.

2) A common issue that comes up with garage doors in cold weather involves weather stripping.

Do you live in a location that gets a lot of snow? What about ice? If you have weather stripping that ends up getting stuck to the ground because of cold temperatures, then the problem which arises is the weather stripping ends up ripping as the garage door is opening. When weather stripping rips and is unable to do its job, you might find that your insulation isn’t as good, and your heating bill might actually go up. One thing that you can do to fix this or prevent it from happening is to get rid of any snow as fast as you can that is surrounding the garage door. Shovel it away as soon as possible. And if you happen to get flooding around your garage door, take care of it once you notice the problem.

3) In cold weather, the garage door might operate loudly.

It isn’t unusual to notice that the garage door is noisier when it is very cold out. This tends to be because you need lubrication. Make sure that the springs, hinges, and tracks are properly oiled or lubricated. If you aren’t sure what to use, ask an expert!

4) In cold weather, grease might end up becoming hardened.

This is true for many things. That is why it is important to make sure your hinges, tracks and springs are lubricated. Check your rollers, too. By getting rid of grease when you find it, you can prevent the garage door from failing to work properly. It is a good idea to use silicone based oil during the winter as this holds up better in freezing temperatures.

5) Parts can break because of metal contracting in the winter.

When it gets cold, the metal parts of your garage door can end up contracting. The issue that can end up arising is that springs and screws can end up breaking. Again, keep everything lubricated.

When issues come up with you garage door, if you don’t have experience working with garage doors directly, it is always best to call in an expert. You can find someone local to you who will come out to inspect your garage door. They will know what to look for based off of the problems that you discuss with them. It can be very dangerous to work with certain parts, like springs, if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. Just imagine how bad it would be if the garage door fell down. This is something that homeowners have had to deal with due to making even the smallest error. The risk associated with potentially making just a minor mistake simply isn’t worth it, nor is the cost of having to replace an entire garage door. So when you are faced with problems with your garage door due to cold weather, make sure you call an expert to come out and do an inspection. Prices might be more affordable than you think.

Garage Door Repair Suffolk has been helping people in Suffolk, Virginia to enjoy safely operating garage doors for many years now. So if you are located in this area, all you have to do is reach out to this trusted team of professionals. If you aren’t living in the area, then a search online or in your phone book should reveal some great options. Just ensure that the specialist you hire is licensed and insured. Make sure that they offer pricing information free of charge. And make sure that they are eager and willing to answer any questions that come up. You should never feel pressured by a garage services professional to purchase any specific service, but you should feel that you have adequate information to determine the best course of action to take.

Stay warm when the temperatures outside drop, and make sure that your garage door is properly maintained so that you can keep enjoying comfort in your garage, and the security that the door provides to you and your family, as well as all of the items that are stored away in your garage.